Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in October.

All of the suspects are Maltese nationals and most have a criminal record, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said. The police have 48 hours to question the suspects, arraign them or release them. Galizia was killed almost two months ago when her car was blown up.

Muscat initially announced eight arrests at a press conference, then later said on Twitter that two more had been apprehended.

Darrin Zammit Lupi / Reuters
Daphne Caruana Galizia, pictured in 2011

“Authorities have all areas of interest under control since early this morning and searches are underway,” he said.

A section of Lighters Wharf in Marsa was sealed off early on Monday as helicopters circled above. Military and police used sniffer dogs to search.

Galizia was following leads from the Panama Papers, which were leaked in 2015 and show how the world’s rich use offshore firms to hide their wealth. She had also accused senior figures in the government and opposition of corruption and money laundering.

All have denied the accusations and Galizia was hit with 36 libel suits in the nine months preceding her death.

Her murder shocked Malta and raised concern within the European Union about the rule of law on the Mediterranean island. Concluding a fact-finding mission on Friday, a group of EU lawmakers said there was a “perception of impunity” in Malta.